The presidents of Mississippi’s three predominantly white research institutions have seen their salaries balloon since 2008.
The presidents at the University of Mississippi and Mississippi State University are now paid more than three times their peers at Delta State University, Mississippi University for Women, Alcorn State University and Mississippi Valley State University.
The gap is mainly due to the foundations at UM and MSU increasing the amount they provide in salary supplements to the presidents. In 2008, UM’s foundation paid Robert Khayat, the school’s then-president, a salary supplement of $205,800. This year, Glenn Boyce received a supplement of $500,000 from the foundation.
Through a public records request, Mississippi Today received salary data for the presidents at all eight public universities going back to 2008. The data includes the amount each president received in a supplement from the university’s private, nonprofit foundation, figures previously unavailable to the public in a comprehensive fashion.
As of 2021, all but one president – Jerryl Briggs at MVSU — now receive salary supplements from their universities’ foundation, according to the data. Briggs received a $10,000 supplement from MVSU’s foundation until 2019. When the supplement was discontinued, Briggs’ state salary was raised by the same amount to compensate.
The presidents' total compension in 2021, the amounts coming from state funds and the amounts coming from foundation funds:
- Alcorn State University: 250,000; 215,000; 35,000
- Delta State University: 265,001; 215,000; 50,001
- Jackson State University: 375,000: 300,000; 75,000
- Mississippi State University: 800,000; 300,000; 500,000
- Mississippi University for Women: 250,000; 220,000; 30,000
- Mississippi Valley State University: 235,000; 235,000; 0
- University of Mississippi: 800,000; 300,000; 500,000
- University of Southern Mississippi: 600,000; 300,000; 300,000
The presidents' total compension in 2008 the amounts coming from state funds and the amounts coming from foundation funds:
- Alcorn State University: 192,937.50; 192,937.50; 0
- Delta State University: 221,812.50; 192,937.50; 28,875
- Jackson State University: 270,500; 220,500; 50,000
- Mississippi State University: 429,000; 220,500; 208,500
- Mississippi University for Women: 219,937.50; 192,937.50; 25,000
- Mississippi Valley State University: 183,750; 183,750; 0
- University of Mississippi: 426,300; 220,500; 205,800
- University of Southern Mississippi: 345,500; 220,500; 125,000
Source: Institutions of Higher Learning
